Ice removal device



R. M. STEVENS ICE REMOVAL DEVICE March 17, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 2l, 1949 FIG. 2

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ICE REMOVAL DEVICE Filed June 21, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. ROBERT M. STEVENS @JMC/Im ATTORNEY.

March 17, 1953 R, M. STEVENS 10E REMOVAL DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 21, 1949 FIG. 5

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f IN VEN TOR. ROBERT M. STEVENS ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 17, 1953 ICE REMOVAL DEVICE Robert M. Stevens, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to Curtiss-Wright Corporation, a. corporation of Delaware Application June 21, 1949, Serial No. 100,430

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to a device for removing ice and like matter from a uid stream, for example from the fuel supply system of an aircraft engine.

At temperatures below freezing, water entrained in such a fuel system forms ice crystals which accumulate on and clog the lter or other region of restriction of the system, requiring the opening of a by-pass around the filter so that the effectiveness of the latter is destroyed and foreign matter is allowed to pass freely through the system to the engine. To avoid this difficulty it has been proposed to inject alcohol into the system for deicing the lter, but this has the disadvantage that in order to be effective the alcohol supply system must be relatively large and heavy, thus subtracting materially from the pay load of the aircraft. Deicing by means of heat applied to the filter in the fluid stream is impractical due to the large amount of heat required to raise above the freezing point the temperature of all fluid passing the filter.

The present invention contemplates a system wherein the deicing medium, whether heat or a deicing fluid such as alcohol, is applied only to ice which has been accumulated on a screen and then removed from the fluid stream. In this Way the -deicing medium is utilized with much greater efciency, and the equipment for supplying it to the screen can be correspondingly smaller and lighter in weight than in the case of the systems heretofore proposed.

According to the invention a movable screen of mesh ne enough to collect the ice particles is arranged in the main fluid passage, the fluid stream being directed through only a part of the screen. Upon that part becoming clogged with ice, the screen is automatically moved to bring a different part thereof into the path of the fluid, and the clogged portion is deiced while it is removed from the stream. A rotatable screen is preferably employed, and its rotation is effected by an impeller that is arranged in a restricted uid by-passage around the screen. The impeller is rotated by flow through the by-passage which occurs only when the part of the screen in the main fluid passage is clogged.

The invention contemplates, as a means for restricting flow through the by-passage, a loaded valve which opens only when icing of the screen is sufcient to effect a predetermined pressure drop across the screen. This valve is employed tooperate means for holding the screen against unwanted rotation, the holding means being released only when the valve opens.

(Cl. ZIO-150.5)

Deicing of the screen may be effected in various ways. However heating is preferred, this being accomplished conveniently by disposing the portion of the screen that is removed from the fluid stream in a compartment which contains .a body of substantially static uid Whose temperature is elevated above freezing by heating elements also disposed in the compartment. These elements may comprise tubes through which heated air or other heating fluid is circulated.

The aforementioned and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a schematic plan View of a system employing the ice removal device of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the device taken on line 2-2 of Figs. 1 and 3;

Fig. 3 is a plan sectional View taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4 4 of Fig. 3; and,

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

The ice removal unit as a whole is indicated by the numeral I0, and as shown in Fig. 1 it may be connected by a duct I I with a heat exchanger I2 which is arranged to receive hot exhaust gases from the tailpipe I3 of an internal combustion engine. These gasses pass, as indicated by dotted line I4, from the engine tailpipe through heating fluid passages in the exch-anger and then exhaust from the latter through an exhaust pipe I5. The path of heating air for the ice removal unit is indicated by dotted line I6, this air entering the heated fluid passages of the heat exchanger from an inlet duct II, and passing from the exchanger through duct Il into unit I0. From the latter it exhausts through a duct I8. Liquid fuel for the engine enters the unit I0 from a fuel inlet line I9 and is discharged from the unit to the engine through a fuel outlet line 20.

The ice removal unit I0 comprises a main casing section 2| having secured thereto a front' plate 22 and side plates 23 and 2t, suitable gaskets 25 being interposed between these and various other parts of the unit I0. Brazed or other- Wise secured in fluid-tight relation to the front plate 22 and extending around the interior of the casing are a plurality of U-shaped heating tubes 26. r1he opposite ends of these tubes open respectively into duct II and duct I8, so that heated air from duct Il traverses the tubes before discharge ing into duct I8. Rigidly secured to the outer face of side plate 23 is a member 21 to which is attached a cover plate 28 that has a nipple 29 for connection with the fuel inlet line I9. Formed within the members 21 and 28 is a motor chamber containing a rotary Vane-type impeller 30, the fluid inlet side of the motor chamber being designated 3lv andthe outlet side 32. .Secured to the inner face of side plate 23 is a member 33, which together with members 21 and 28 provides a primary fuel passage 34 extending from the nipple 29 to approximately the center .of `the casing and also provides a fuel by-pa-ssagg 35 beneath and parallel with passage-34. Passage 35 is in open communication with chamber v32, while passage 34 opens into chamber 3| through a valve seat that is normally closed b y aspringbacked valve 36, as is shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

A tubular member 31 secured to side'plate 24 is spaced from out aligned with member 33 so as to receive fuel .exhausting frompassages and 35. -Member 31 .conducts such lfluid toa nipple 38 that is secured to the outer face of .plate24 `and is :adapted for connection to the ,outlet fuel linei20.

Interposed between members 33 and .3 1 is 4a rotatable screen unit 39 .that is afxedto a shaft 40 which also carries .the impeller 33, the shaft being journalled in bearings v.4l vprovided within the casing. The screen unit comprises a hub 42 and inner, intermediate .and outer rings, respectively43, 44 and 45, spacedbyspokes 46. .Screening 41 is .extended between rings 43 and 44 and screening 48 between .rings i4 and 4.5, the latter screening being plaited or arranged in .folds as shown in Fig. 4 to increase .the Veffective area thereof. Telescoped partially within .outer ring 45 is a stationary sealing ring 49 that lis vcarried by a partition `l), the'latter being .so extended across the casing interior that fuel from passages 34 and .35 can enter tubular .member 3=1 only by passing through the mesh of screening .4.1, 48.

.In order to 'prevent rotation ofthe screen unit 39 and impeller 30, when the .valve 36 .is closed, a finger y5I is extended from .the .valve for engaging in notches 52 formed in the periphery of -the circular web of the impeller. Access to the interior of the'casing for Areplacement of screen Vunit `39 is .provided by a slot 53 formed in the casing section -2.I,this slot being closed -by a .band 54 held in .place by removable fasteners 55. A screw cap 56 on the side plate 24v aligned with shaft 40 is removable to provide access to hub 4.2 which is screw threaded onto shaft 40.

In order .to prevent such accumulation of vapor within unit IU .as would impair its efficiency, a vented dome 51 is provided on casing section 2l. The vent vfrom the dome, leading to a vent line 58 is closed -by a spring backed vapor relief valve 59. This valve is connected to a iioat l[ill which is pivoted at 6l to the casing, the arrangement being such that when the liquid in Athe Vdome vdrops -below a .predetermined level due -to accumulation of vapor thereabove, the iioat -lowers and thereby opens l.the Vvalve to allow escape of such vapor through vent line .58.

Similarly in order to prevent accumulation of Water in the unit l0 a hydrometric valve is provided in a well .62 in the casing 2l to control a passage leading .to water vent line 63. This valve comprises a spring closed valve element 54 connected to a oat 6 5 whose buoyancy .in water, but not in liquid fuel, is sufficient to open the valve. Consequently when the level of water in well 62 becomes high .enough to` submerge the iioat the valve is automatically opened to allow the water to drain from the well.

In normal operation of the system, fuel entering nipple 29 and passage 34 from line i9 passes through the part of the screening 41 and 48 which overlies the end of passage 34 and thence passes into tubular part 31 from which it flows through nipple VV38 into line 26 leading to the engine. During such normal operationfthe screening imposes little resistance to passage of fuel therethrough and hence the pressure differential between passages 34 and 35 is sufficient to open the valve 36'against the load of its spring. Accordingly .there is no flow of fuel through by-passage 35; andalso there is no appreciable flow of fuel in the Acasing outside of members 33 and 31 and aroundtubes ,26, so that the body of fuel in the casing is nearly static and its temperature is raised substantially by the heated air from duct Il passing through the tubes. As will be apparent to those skilled in theart, suitable vconti-ol means Vfor the heating system .may be provided. to maintain this temperature at the desired d egree.

Upon the accumulation of ice on the partei the screening overlying passage ,34 in..sumcent quantity to obstruct the direct flow -of fuelfrom that vpassage into Atube 3.1, the resulting increase of pressure in passage3-'irelative vto thepressure in passage 3 5 will open the valve 3S :andallow fuel to `flow through chambers .3| and 32 .and thencethrough passage 3 5. -Flow from the latter is unobstructed since the ice accumulation does not extend Vappreciably beyond the portion of the screening overlying passage 3 4. The :flow between chambers 3l and 3 2 results in .rotationfof the impeller 30 so .that the screen unit 3.9 turned, clockwise in Fig. v2, to move .the ice covered part of the screening into :the static body of heated fuel, which ,acts to Vmelt the ice, and to bring an ice-free partof the screening into overlying relation to the outlet ,of .passage 3.4. There.- upon normal flow through passage 3.4 will be restored, valve 3.6 will close, .and :the now acting to cause rotation of .impeller 3 0 will cease.

As valve 36. opens, .the finger v5l is lifted from the notches 52 .in the impeller web, so -thatthe aforementioned rotation of the impeller and screen unit is permitted. However as .soon as the valve .closes .the finger acts to stop such rotation. By this arrangement .the screen unit rotates .only through the angle required to present an ice-free portion of .the screening to .the fuel passage 34, thereby providing maximum :ice removal capacity for a unit of given dimensions.

It will be understood vthat foregoing .disclosure of the ice removal unit and of the apparatus associated with it, is set forth by way of illustration and explanation of .the inventive principles involved, and not by way `of limitation. These principles may :be employed in various .other physical vembodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention, or from' .the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A foreign `matter removal means for a -fl-uid system comprising a movable screen, a primary fluid fed Vconduit terminating adjacent a portion of said screen for directing iiuid therethrough, a loaded bypass valve in said primary conduit upstream of its termination, responsive in its opening .to pressure rise in said conduit occasioned by cloggingof the screen portion adjacent the conduit termination, a second fluid feed conduit into which said bypass valve discharges lfluid and terminating adjacent another portion of said screen but on the same side thereof for directing and delivering fluid therethrough, means to move said screen transversely relative to the discharge portions of said conduits in response to flow of liuid in said second conduit as a result of opening of said bypass Valve, and a common outlet for fluid on the opposite side of said screen from said conduits to receive fiuid passing through said screen from either conduit.

2. A foreign matter removal means for a fluid system comprising a movable screen, a primary fluid fed conduit terminating adjacent a portion of said screen for directing fluid therethrough, a loaded bypass Valve in said primary conduit upstream of its termination, responsive in its opening to pressure rise in said conduit occasioned by clogging of the screen portion adjacent the conduit termination, a second fluid feed conduit into which said bypass valve discharges fluid and terminating adjacent another portion of said screen but on the same side thereof for directing and delivering fluid therethrough, means to move said screen transversely relative to the discharge portions of said conduits in response to flow of iluid in said second conduit as a result of opening of said bypass valve, a common outlet on the opposite side of said screen from said conduits to receive fluid passing through said screen from either conduit, a housing embracing those portions of said screen out of the paths of said first and second conduits, and means in said housing for removing foreign matter from the said screen portions.

3. A foreign matter removal means for a fluid system comprising a movable screen, a primary fluid fed conduit terminating adjacent a portion of said screen for directing fluid therethrough, a loaded bypass valve in said primary conduit upstream of its termination, responsive in its opening to pressure rise in said conduit occasioned by clogging of the screen portion adjacent the conduit termination, a second iiuid feed conduit into Which said bypass valve discharges uid and terminating adjacent another portion of said screen but on the same side thereof for directing and delivering fluid therethrough, an impeller in said second conduit rotatable by flow of iiuid therein, and a driving connection from said impeller to move said screen transversely relative to the discharge portions of said conduits, and a common outlet on the opposite side of said screen from said conduits to receive fluid passing through said screen from either conduit.

4. A foreign matter removal means for a fluid system comprising a movable screen, a primary fluid fed conduit terminating adjacent a portion of said screen for directing fluid therethrough, a loaded bypass valve in said primary conduit upstream of its termination, responsive in its opening to pressure rise in said conduit occasioned by clogging of the screen portion adjacent the conduit termination, a second fluid feed conduit into which said bypass valve discharges fluid and terminating adjacent another portion of said screen but on the same side thereof for directing and delivering fluid therethrough, an impeller in said second conduit rotatable by iiow of fluid therein, a driving lconnection from said impeller to move said screen transversely relative to the discharge portions of said conduits, a common outlet on the opposite side of said screen from said conduits to receive duid passing through said screen from either conduit, a housing embracing those portions cf said screen Which are out of the paths of said first and second conduits and means in said housing for removing foreign matter from the said screen portions.

ROBERT M. STEVENS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,722,808 Manning July 30, 1929 1,998,622 Harrow Apr. 23, 1935 2,057,497 McNeal Oct. 13, 1936 2,064,510 Wells Dec. 15, 1936 2,066,479 Mac Isaac Jan. 5, 1937 

